Combination treating tank and dry kiln



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G. E. RICE COIBINATION TREATING TANK AND DRY KILN Filed July 21, 1925 4Sheets-Sheet attozweq Patented Sept. 2 0, 1927.

- T D TES PATENTOFFI'CE.

GEORGE E. RICE AND CLARENCE L. SIMMONS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CONSERVATION CORPORATIONOF AMERICA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

COMBINATION TREATING TANK AND DRY KILN.

Application filed July 21, 1925. Serial No 45,105.

The present invention relates to apparatus for the treatment of wood andother material, and aims to provide a combination treating tank. and drykiln in which the wood or other material may be cleansed, sterilized'and impregnated with a preserving solution I ll and then dried with acontinuous operation,

so as to save time and expense and also obtain desired results.

Another object is the provision of such an apparatus having means fordrawing ofl'or conveying the vapors to an approved condensing equipmentand obtaining valuable by-products therefrom.

A further object is the provisionof such an apparatus having means forremoving the scum which rises to the surface of the liquid in order thatvaluable by=products be obtained from the scum. still further object isthe provision of such an apparatus having novel means for sealing thedoors to-provideair and liquid tight joints.

With the foregoing and other objects in 'view, which will be apparent asthe description proceeds, the invention resides-in the construction" andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it beingunderstood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accom;

- panying drawings, wherein' Figure 1'1s a perspective view of theimproved combination treating tank and dry kiln. x

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section'lon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal, section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. IFig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4: of Fig. 2. i Fig. 5 "s anenlarged sectional detail of the door sealiiigmeans.

' The tank, which also serves as adry kiln, may be made of wood,'o r anyother suitable material, and comprises the bottom 10, side walls 11, topor roof 12, and low end walls I 13, the ends of the tank being open, asat 14, so that the material may be moved into and out of the tank. Theopenings 14 are closed by doors 15 of sheet metal or other suitablematerial, which are slidable vertian as shown.

17. A hose 21 extends along each of .the

Z-irons or members 16, so as to be confined between the flanges 18 andcorresponding edge portions-of the door and between the portions 17 vand'flanges 20. The hose 21 provides an inflatable packing or gasket, sothat when .the hose is inflated'by compressed "air, water or other fluidit will expand, and

in pressing tightly against the door 15, flanges 18 and 20 and portion17 the hose will provide an air and .liquid'tightjoint between the doorand body of the tank along the vertical and lower edges of the .door.

One end of each hose 21 extends outwardly and has a valve 22 in orderthat the flow of air into and out of the hose may be controlled, the airbeing discharged from the hose so that same is deflated when the door isto be raised for opening the tank.

Arches 23 are mounted on the end portions of the tank, and each arch andcorresponding door may be connected by block and tackle 24 or othersuitable means for.

conveniently raising the door.

In order to provide tight joints between the top 12 of the tank and theupper edge portions of the doors, angle irons or. flanged members 25'are secured to the inner sides of the doors at the upper edges thereofand seat on packing strips 26 on the top 12 of the tank when the doorsare lowered to closed position.

The luniber, timber, or other material is conveyed into and out of thetank on a truck 27, and the tank may be ofsuflicient size to hold'anumber of trucks. Rails 28 extend longitudinally in the tank forthemovement of the trucks thereon, and are supported from the bottom 10.on standards- 29. Rails 30 extend to and-from the tank at the. oppositeends thereof in alinement with the rails 28, and loose sections 31 canbe disposed between the rails 28 and 30 when the doors 15 are raised, sothat the trucks or cars may move into and out of the tank. As shown, theloose sections 31 are hingedly connected to the rails 30 to swing downon the end walls 13 of the tank.

The liquid with which the material in the tank is treated is suppliedfrom a reservoir 32 which, as shown, 1s elevated for the gravity flow ofthe liquid from the reservoir into the treating tank. A supply pipe 33extends from the lower portion of the reservoir 32 and has branches 34and 35 connected to the upper and lower portions of the tank. Saidbranches have the control valves 36 and 37, respectively. The branch 35is connected to a pi e 38 leading to a drain opening 39 in the ottom 10of the treating tank. The branch 34 is connected to a discharge pipe 40extending transversely across the tank at one end thereof above thelevel of the liquid when the tank is filled. A water supply pipe 41 isalso connected to the pipe 40 and has a control valve 42, and a fioatcontrolled valve 43 controls the flow from either the branch 34 or thepipe 41 into the discharge pipe 40, in order to maintain the liquid inthe tank at a predetermined level.

A return pipe 44 is connected to the pipe 38, and a pump 45 is provided(between the pipes 38 and 44 as shown) for pumping the liquid from thetreating tank back into the reservoir 32, in order to empty the treatingtankand conserve the solution.

Radiators 46 are disposed on the bottom 10 of the tank, and are suppliedwith steam from a steam supply pipe 47, a valve 48 controlling the fiowof steam into said radiators, and the discharge pipe 49 leads from theradiators at the end opposite to the supply pipe 47. Any suitableradiators may be used.

A steam spray pipe 50 is connected to the pipe 47 and has a controlvalve 51. The pipe 50, as shown, extends longitudinally above theradiators 46, and when the valve 51 is opened steam will be dischargedinto the tank, when the device is used as a dry kiln, to supply thenecessaryhumidity.

The vapors are drawn oil through a hood 52 on the top 12' of the tank,and a hose or pipe 53 leading from said hood. The hood 52 is preferablyhinged on the top 12 so that the hood may be swung open for access intothe tank from above. The hose or pi e 53 is connected to a condenser 54to con ense the vapors so that valuable lay-products may be recovered,and a suction pump55 is connected to the condenser 54 to draw 0d thevapors from the up er portion of the tank. The pump 55 is a so used, ashereinafter pointed out, for creating sub-atmospheric pressure in thetank.

A1 scum trap is provided in the tank in order that the scum can heremoved and macaw.

valuable by-products recovered therefrom.

'As shown, the scum trap comprises a trough 56 disposed transversely ofthe tank at one end thereof and at the level of the liquid when the tankis filled, with an inclined screen 57 extending'downwardly from one edgeof the trough 56 toward the opposite end of the'tankJ As shown, the scumtrap is located at that end of the tank opposite to the end where theliquid delivery pipe 40 is located, and the jets of liquid dischargingfrom the pipe 40 are directed toward the end of the tank where the scumtrap is located so as to create a current at the surface of the liquidtoward the scum trap. This current or flow of scum toward the scum trapis facilitated by the discharge of air, steam or liquid from pipes 58extending transversely within the tank at suitable longitudinal pointsthereof above the liquid level, and the pipes 58 are supplied with airor fluid under pressure from a pipe 59. The air discharged from thepipes 58 is directed toward the end of the tank where the scum trap islocated. Thus, the scum rising to the surface of the liquid is made tomove toward the scum trap, and the scum passes up the inclined screen 57into the trough 56, and any liquid passing over the screen 57 tricklesdown through the screen, so as to separate the liquid from the scum. Thetrough 56 is inclined slightly so that the scum will flow down to oneend of the trough from which a drain pipe 60 leads to a centrifugalseparator 61 that separates the solid and liquid matters of the scum,and the solid and liquid matters are discharged separately from theseparator 61 which may be of any suitable type.

Air ducts 62 extend longitudinally of the tank at the corners betweenthe bottom and side Walls, and are provided at longitudinally spacedpoints with openings 63 in their inner sides for discharging air intothe tank along the bottom thereof. Suitable doors 64 are provided toclose the ends of the ducts 62 in order to shut oi? the flow of air intosaid ducts, and said doors are liquid tight, when closed, to prevent theescape of liquid when the tank is filled with liquid in the treatment ofthe material. The air ducts 62 are used for the admission of air whenthe device is used as a dry kiln.

The tank is provided with dues for the discharge of moisture laden airwhen using the device as a dry kiln. As shown, the fines 65 are formedin the side walls 12 and open at their inner ends, as at 66, into thetank adjacent to the top thereol andabove the liquid level. From the airoutlet openings 66 of the tank, the flues 65 extend downwardly and thenupwardly to provide traps, and the upwardly extending portions of thetines rise above the top or root of the tank. The discharge of air fromthe tank through the flues is-controlled by regulators 67 comprising theframes 68 fitted in the openings 66, and flap valves 69 ,hingedlyconnected at their upper edges with the frames 68. Said frames haveflanges 70 forming seats for j the valves 69, whereby said valves serveas thereof will, by pressure against the valves 69, swing said valvesopen to let the air escape through the flues 65.

The treating tank is provided with a gage .71 to indicate the level ofthe liquid in the tank, and the tank is also e uipped with a thermometer72 to indicatet e temperature of the liquid or air in the tank, ahygrometer 73 to indicate the humidity of the air in the tank or drykiln, and a specific gravity gage or indicator 74. These instruments maybe located at any suitable point.

, The operation varies according to different grades or kinds of wood orother suitable material to be'treated and dried, but briefly describedis as follows:

The wood or other material is placed in the tank, which is convenientlydone by loading the wood on a truck, skid, basket or other conveyanceand moving it on the rails into the tank, one or both doors 15 havingbeen opened. The doors are then closed and the hose 21 of each doorinflated, thereby sealing the doors. The doors 64 of the air ducts 62are also closed. ,The saccharine or other solution is then deliveredinto the tank," and may be run through both branches 34 and 35 of thepipe 33 by openingthe valves 36 and 37. The wood is held down by anysuitable means. When the tank is filled to or near-the predeterminedlevel, as

shown in Fig. 4 and in dotted lines in Fig. 3,.

the valve 37 is closed, and the float valve 43 will then. automaticallycontrol the flow of the liquid into the tank by the addition of eitherwater, oil, ora mixed solution, as

may be required, to maintain the liquid at the predetermined level. Thevalve 48 is then opened to admit steam into the radiators 46, so as toheat thesolution or liquid. The heating of the solution may be contlnuedfor any desired length of time, ac-

- cording to the material being treated, and

the temperature may be controlled for maintaining a predeterminedtemperature, or increasing or decreasing the temperature. The specificgravity of the solution may be controlled by controlling the valves 36and 42 .so that the solution from the reservoir 32 or fresh water may.be' delivered into the 'tank, the specific gravity of the liquid inthetank being indicated by the gage 74. During the boiling or heating ofthe wood in the solution the liquid discharged from the pipe 40 and airdischarged from the pipes 58 will create-- a current at the surface ofthe liquid toward the scum trap, so that the scum is directed toward thescum .trap over the screen 57 into the trough 56. The scum is thuscaught and discharged into the centrifugal separator 61 so that thesolid and liquid'constituents of the scum may be separated and valuableby-products reclaimed or recovered. The pump 55 may be operated duringthe impregnation of the wood in the solution, for drawing ofi the vaporris'ng from the solution, and the condenser 54 will condense the vaporso that valuable by-products may be recovered. The suction created bythe pump 55 may also be used to facilitate the cooling of the solutionin the closed in the copending applications for patents of George E.Rice, Serial Nos. 726,- 834, 735,218 and 21,695, filed July 18, 1924,Aug. 30, 1924, and April 8, 1925, respectively. However, the apparatusmay be used for other treating or impregnation processess, and differentsolutions may be used for impregnation ofthe wood or material.

After the treatment of the wood in the so,- lution has been completed,following a predetermined schedule, the valves 36 and 42 are closed toshut off the flow of liquid from the reservoir 32 into the tank, thevalve 37 having been previously closed. The liquid is then dischargedfrom the tank by operating the pump 45 which will pump the liquid fromthe tank back into the reservoir. If desired, the interior of the tankmay be washed out with hot water and rinsed before the drying operationtakes place. This may be done by opening the hood 52 and spraying thewater through the opening into the top of the tank,but this may not beneces sary excepting with some solutions.

Thedrying operation immediately follows the completion of theimpregnation of the wood and discharge 6f the liquid from the.

tank. A suitable dry kiln schedule is used,

according to the grade o f wood being treated and other conditions. Theradiators 46 heat the air in the tank or kiln at the bottom thereof, andit will be observed that the is discharged, will contain latent heatfrom the solution so that the drying action is facilitated. The valve 51is opened in order to discharge steam into the kiln to supply thedesired humidity, 'as indicated by the hygrometer 73, and the doors64are opened so that air flows through the ducts 62 and openings 63thereof into the kiln. Fresh air is thus supplied at opposite sides intothe kiln adjacent to the radiators 46 so that the air is heated belowthe wood, and the heated air rises past the wood. The moisture laden airrises to the upper portion of the tank or kiln, and the regulators 67control the dischargeof the air. Thus, the flaps 69 retain the air inthe kiln until the pressure of the moisture laden air against the flaps69 swing said flaps open, so that the moisture laden air can escapethrough the lines 65. Said fiues serve as traps to hold the moistureladen air therein and thereby retard the flow of air from the kiln.

It is also possible to operate the pump 55 during the operation of theap aratus as a dry kiln, for withdrawing t 1e moisture laden air andcondensing the vapors to obtain by-product therefrom. The apparatus,when used as a dry kiln, is of a type known in the trade as the Emersondry kiln, and the operating schedules thereof may be followed, withpossibly some modifications owing to the impregnation of the wood withthe saccharine or other solution previous to the drying operation.

The time required for drying depends on the material and othercircumstances, and the heat and humidity are controlled according toschedules found best suited for the particular wood or material. Afterthe drying has been completed, the doors 15 are opened and the woodremoved from the tank or kiln, and a new load may be run immediatelyinto the tank for impregnation and drying.

= With the present apparatus the wood or material need not be touched ormoved from the time it is placed into the tank until it is removed, andgreen timber or lumber, which may even be freshly felled, may be treatedand then dried, so as to be ready for use in a few days, withoutrequirin lengthy air seasoning. Not only is the 1an ling of the woodreduced to a minimum, by the successive treating and drying operationsin the same tank, but, furthermore, the wood remaining warm followinsaturation thereof, will facilitate drying which starts in immediatelyafter the tank is emptied by the discharge of the liquid therefrom. Thetank may even remain closed so that the heating or drying operationtakes place immediately after the liquid is discharged, and the sameradiators or heating elements 46 are used for heating the liquid duringimpregnation and end walls, with the top accent;

the air during drying. The ump 55 and condenser 54 are also used avantageously during the impregnation treatment and also during thedrying step.

A tank may be used having solid side and 12 removable, but this requiresthat the wood or material be lowered into the tank and lifted therefromwhen the top is open. Such type of tank may be suitable for smalloperations when lar e capacity is not essential.

fiaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Acombination treating and dry kiln apparatus including a closed liquidholding tank, heating means therein, air inlet means at the bottom ofthe tank having a liquid tight closure, air outlet means at the upperportion of the tank having a regulator preventing the inflow of air andadapted to permit of outflow atslightl above atmospheric pressure in thetank, an means for supporting liquid into and withdrawing it from thetank.

2. A combination treating and dry kiln apparatus including a closedliquid holding tank, heat radiators therein at the bottom thereof, anair inlet duct at the bottom of the tank, a li uid ti ht closure forsaid duct, an air outlet ue lea ing from the upper portion of the tank,a regulator controlling the flow of air through said flue and preventingthe inflow of air and adapted to open outwardly by pressure within thetank slightly above atmospheric pressure, and means for supplying liquidinto and withdrawing it from the tank.

3. In an ap aratus of the character described, a liquid holding tank, ascum trap in the tank at the liquid level, and means for creating themovement of the scum at the surface of the liquid to said trap.

4. In an ap aratus of the character described, a liquid holding tank, ascum trap in the tank, at the liquid level and means for directing fluidto the surface of the liquid in the tank for moving the scum to saidtrap.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a liquid holding tank, ascum trap therein at the liquid level including a trough and an inclinedscreen extendin from one edge of the trough, and means or creating themovement of the scum on the surface of the liquid to and over saidscreen into the tra 6 In an apparatus of the character described, aliquid holding tank, a scum trap therein at the-liquid level including atrough and an inclined screen extending from one edge of the trough, andmeans for directin fluid to the surface of the liquid in the tan formoving the scum to and over said screen into the trough.

and dry kiln 7. A combination treatigg apparatus including a clos liquidholding tank,' means in the tan liquid or .air therein,

means for the tank arranged for the automatic flow of air through thetank when 5 using the tank as a dry charging steam into the air therein,and means k for heating either into and withdrawing it from the tank forair inlet and outlet impregnating the material in the tank.

signatures. kiln,'means for distank to humidify the GEORGE E. RICE. forsupplying liquid CLARENCE L. SILIMONS.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our 10

